It was my birthday last night, so I decided to try a Greek restaurant in the neighborhood that I’ve never been to before. Since I only recently started eating seafood, I decided to try one with that specialty: Taverna Kyclades.

This restaurant had always appealed to me, just from walking by. There’s an indoor section and a section that’s outdoor in the summer, and enclosed in the winter. It’s filled with grape vines and looks very inviting. Now that I was eating what was on the menu, I decided to try this place out.

When we entered the restaurant, I thought it would be too crowded to stay. On a Wednesday night! But since most of the people waiting were families with larger parties, my boyfriend and I were able to get a table. I was suprised at the crowds, since I’d never had trouble getting a seat at other Astorian Greek restaurants.

We sat in the enclosed, outdoor area. The atmosphere was festive, suiting for a birthday (though perhaps not a romantic dinner). I got the impression this was a place of regulars, where everyone knew each other. One man even handed a waiter a stick of his calamari to give to a friend who was dining across the room. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.

The menu focused on seafood, though there were other options. Sadly, no haloumi, but they did have a lovely fried cheese dish that we got as an appetizer. I got the Salmon Steak as my entree.Very tasty, but the portions were huge. Definitely a good deal for their moderate price. I will be enjoying that salmon for the rest of week.

(photo from www.aozorany.com)

For my third post in this series on Greek restaurants in Astoria, I decided to go with one of the most eclaimed Greek restaurants in the area: Stamatis.

Located just a block from the subway, Stamatis is a well-known establishment with a casual, lively vibe. There’s a rather amusing, large photograph of the city skyline inside (reminiscent of a late night show). The menu has all the usual suspects. Tasty seafood options, tzatziki, souvlaki, and delicious saganaki. Unfortunately, they do not have haloumi (grilled goat cheese from Cyprus). To me, this is the single biggest drawback to the restaurant.

Stamatis is moving shortly, to a renovated building across the street. I’m not sure when this change is happening. Right now, Stamatis is still open for business at its original location. It’s a tasty spot, moderately priced (pricier than Anna’s Corner, cheaper than Mezzo Mezzo). A good dinner place, particularly for a group, as long as no one has an unhealthy obsession with haloumi.

This is my second post in a series on Greek restaurants in Astoria. In the 1960’s, an influx of Greeks immigrated to this neighborhood, setting up some of the tastiest restaurants in New York (read more).

Mezzo Mezzo is a slightly upscale Mediterranean restaurant located on Ditmars Blvd. The decor is all wood and rustic, oddly more like a lodge than a Greek restaurant. A two-level restaurant, Mezzo Mezzo has outdoor seating available in warm weather. The large menu includes a range of seafood, pasta, and delicious Greek appetizers. I, of course, go for the haloumi (Cypriot grilled goat cheese), which may possibly be the best at this establishment.

While the place fills up on the weekends (particularly in warm weather), you don’t normally have to wait long for a seat. On Friday and Saturday nights, bellydancers occasionally perform. I went one Saturday night and was quite impressed at the talented dancer’s performance. She moved so fluidly and her face was so expressive. She made direct eye contact with me, and the other women there, with a glance that seemed to acknowledge some secret feminine power that we all share.

While you can find cheaper, good Greek food in the neighborhood, Mezzo Mezzo’s definitely worth a visit, if you’re in the mood for something a bit more upscale. Or for some good haloumi and the bellydancing.

I’ve been living in the lovely neighborhood of Astoria for more than 3 years, so I’ve decided to do a series of posts on some of the delicious Greek restaurants in the area. I had never tasted authentic Greek food until living here (Jersey diner cuisine hardly counts). And now I list it among my favorites.

I’ll start with the restaurant dearest to my heart (mostly because it’s nearest to my home): Anna’s Corner. Located conveniently near the subway, Anna’s Corner is a small, moderately-priced establishment. During warm weather, it has outdoor seating available. And during the cold months, you rarely have to wait for a seat inside. The interior is reminiscent of many Greek restaurants, despite the rather surprising goat statue on the wall. And there is, of course, the obligatory lamb meat twirling on display, which, for some reason, I find rather amusing.

The menu has a good range of Greek dishes, my favorites being haloumi (grilled goat cheese, actually a Cypriot dish, but served at most Astorian spots), beets, tzatziki, and fried vegetables. For meat-lovers, there’s souvlaki, Cypriot sausages, lamb, among others. There’s also plenty of seafood options. If I’m in the mood, I’ll order Retsina to drink, but they serve plenty of other reasonably-priced wines as well. I usually go there and order a selection of appetizers, the remainder of which I take home and happily eat for days.

The service can be slow, so it’s not the place to go if you’re in a rush. But the food is good, the atmosphere is warm, and the price is right. I recommend it if you’re looking for something casual and tasty, right near the subway.